Glorifying God: Local Actions, Global Impact
Summary
In our gathering today, we explored the profound calling of the church to glorify God, both locally and globally. We began by acknowledging the burdens many of us carry and the unique opportunity we have to support one another in community. This sense of community extends beyond our local congregation as we participate in initiatives like Operation Christmas Child, which allows us to leave "global fingerprints" by sharing the gospel with children worldwide. This act of giving is a tangible expression of our faith, demonstrating how local actions can have a global impact.
Our focus then shifted to the central purpose of the church: to glorify God. This is not merely a statement but a call to action that requires us to live out our faith in practical ways. We are called to think globally and act locally, balancing our efforts to reach those near us and those far away. This dual focus is rooted in the Great Commission, where Jesus instructs us to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Our task is not an either-or proposition but a both-and mission.
We delved into Ephesians 3, where Paul prays for the church to be strengthened by the Spirit, to know the love of Christ, and to be filled with the fullness of God. This personal experience of God's glory is foundational for the church to glorify God collectively. When we experience God's glory individually, it transforms our worship and witness, allowing us to extend His glory globally and express it locally.
Our worship is a powerful witness to the world. It is not about entertainment or performance but about exalting God and acknowledging His truth. Worship is an act of declaring what is true about God, regardless of our understanding or feelings. Every element of our service, from music to preaching to giving, is an act of worship that brings glory to God.
Finally, we looked forward to the eternal worship we will experience in heaven, where we will join with believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation to exalt God forever. Our worship here is a foretaste of that perfect and infinite worship. As we live out our faith, we are reminded that what we do now matters, as it points to the eternal glory we will one day experience.
Key Takeaways:
- The church's primary purpose is to glorify God, which begins with each of us experiencing His glory personally. This personal encounter with God's glory transforms our lives and empowers us to glorify Him collectively. [21:20]
- We are called to think globally and act locally, balancing our efforts to reach those near us and those far away. This dual focus is rooted in the Great Commission, where Jesus instructs us to be His witnesses in all the earth. [17:57]
- Worship is a powerful witness to the world. It is not about entertainment or performance but about exalting God and acknowledging His truth. Every element of our service is an act of worship that brings glory to God. [36:55]
- Our mission is to extend God's glory globally by spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. This involves supporting missionaries, sending mission trips, and encouraging others to serve, as the gospel is to be preached throughout the world. [33:57]
- Our worship here is a foretaste of the perfect and infinite worship we will experience in heaven. We were created for worship, and only when we worship God will we find our deepest purpose and joy. [45:24]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[16:25] - Introduction to Ephesians 3
[17:57] - Think Globally, Act Locally
[19:17] - The Church's Purpose: Glorify God
[21:20] - Experiencing God's Glory Personally
[23:20] - Manifestations of God's Glory
[24:26] - Paul's Prayer for the Church
[25:28] - Strengthened by the Spirit
[28:01] - Extending God's Glory Globally
[30:14] - The Church as a Family
[31:24] - Global Church and Persecution
[33:57] - Missions and the Gospel
[35:35] - Expressing God's Glory Locally
[36:55] - Worship as a Witness
[38:10] - True Worship Defined
[45:24] - Eternal Worship in Heaven
[47:18] - The Glory of the Redeemed
[49:24] - Invitation to Worship
[52:22] - Exalting God in All Circumstances
[53:16] - Closing Prayer and Exhortation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 3:14-21
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul pray for the church in Ephesians 3:16-19, and how does this relate to the church's purpose to glorify God? [24:26]
2. How does the sermon describe the balance between thinking globally and acting locally in the context of the Great Commission? [17:57]
3. What are some ways mentioned in the sermon that the church can extend God's glory globally? [33:57]
4. According to the sermon, how is worship defined, and what role does it play in glorifying God? [38:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In Ephesians 3:16-19, Paul emphasizes being strengthened by the Spirit and knowing the love of Christ. How might this personal experience of God's glory empower believers to glorify God collectively? [21:20]
2. The sermon discusses the dual focus of the church's mission: local and global. How can this dual focus be practically implemented in a church's activities and outreach programs? [17:57]
3. The sermon mentions that worship is not about entertainment but about exalting God. How can churches ensure that their worship services remain focused on glorifying God rather than becoming performances? [36:55]
4. The sermon describes the eternal worship we will experience in heaven. How does this future reality influence the way we worship and live out our faith today? [45:24]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal experience of God's glory. How does this experience influence your daily life and interactions with others? What steps can you take to deepen this experience? [21:20]
2. Consider the balance between thinking globally and acting locally in your own life. Are there specific actions you can take to support global missions while also engaging with your local community? [17:57]
3. Worship is described as acknowledging what is true about God. How can you incorporate this understanding of worship into your personal and corporate worship practices? [38:10]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of extending God's glory globally. What role can you play in supporting missions or spreading the gospel in your own context? [33:57]
5. How does the concept of eternal worship in heaven shape your perspective on the importance of worship in your life now? What changes might you make to align your worship with this eternal perspective? [45:24]
6. The sermon highlights the importance of glorifying God through our witness. How can you be a more effective witness for Christ in your daily interactions? [36:55]
7. Reflect on the idea that our worship here is a foretaste of the perfect worship in heaven. How can this understanding motivate you to engage more deeply in worship and community life? [45:24]
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing God's Glory Personally
The church's primary purpose is to glorify God, which begins with each individual experiencing His glory personally. This personal encounter with God's glory transforms lives and empowers believers to glorify Him collectively. When individuals are filled with the fullness of God, as Paul prays in Ephesians 3, they are strengthened by the Spirit and come to know the love of Christ deeply. This transformation is not just for personal edification but serves as the foundation for the church's collective mission to glorify God. As each person experiences God's glory, their worship and witness are transformed, allowing them to extend His glory globally and express it locally. [21:20]
Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: Think of a recent moment when you felt God's presence in your life. How can you seek to experience His glory more deeply in your daily routine?
Day 2: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
Believers are called to think globally and act locally, balancing efforts to reach those near and far. This dual focus is rooted in the Great Commission, where Jesus instructs His followers to be witnesses in all the earth. The church is not to choose between local and global missions but to embrace both as part of its calling. By participating in initiatives like Operation Christmas Child, believers can leave "global fingerprints" by sharing the gospel with children worldwide. This act of giving is a tangible expression of faith, demonstrating how local actions can have a global impact. [17:57]
Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Reflection: Identify one local and one global initiative you can support this week. How can you contribute to both in a meaningful way?
Day 3: Worship as a Witness
Worship is a powerful witness to the world. It is not about entertainment or performance but about exalting God and acknowledging His truth. Every element of a church service, from music to preaching to giving, is an act of worship that brings glory to God. Worship is an act of declaring what is true about God, regardless of personal understanding or feelings. This authentic worship serves as a testimony to the world, pointing others to the truth of who God is. As believers engage in genuine worship, they reflect God's glory to those around them. [36:55]
Psalm 96:9-10 (ESV): "Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.'"
Reflection: Consider how your personal worship can serve as a witness to others. What changes can you make to ensure your worship is authentic and God-centered?
Day 4: Extending God's Glory Globally
The mission of the church is to extend God's glory globally by spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. This involves supporting missionaries, sending mission trips, and encouraging others to serve, as the gospel is to be preached throughout the world. The church is called to be a light in the darkness, sharing the hope of Christ with those who have not yet heard. By participating in global missions, believers fulfill their calling to be witnesses to the ends of the earth, bringing glory to God through their obedience and service. [33:57]
Isaiah 49:6 (ESV): "He says: 'It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'"
Reflection: Reflect on how you can support global missions, whether through prayer, financial support, or personal involvement. What steps can you take to be more engaged in spreading the gospel worldwide?
Day 5: A Foretaste of Eternal Worship
Worship on earth is a foretaste of the perfect and infinite worship believers will experience in heaven. Created for worship, individuals find their deepest purpose and joy when they worship God. In heaven, believers will join with others from every tribe, tongue, and nation to exalt God forever. This eternal worship is the culmination of the church's mission to glorify God. As believers live out their faith, they are reminded that their actions now point to the eternal glory they will one day experience. [45:24]
Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV): "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'"
Reflection: How does the promise of eternal worship in heaven influence your worship today? What can you do to make your worship a true reflection of the joy and purpose you will experience in eternity?
Quotes
1. "It is easy for us to talk about the purpose and the task of the church because we know the texts and we know the passages that it's very clear this is who we are and this is what we do. But what does that look like? Live doubt. What does that look like for us as individuals and as a church on a daily basis, on a weekly basis?" ([00:16:42] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "There are those who are very focused on the biblical balance, and they're very focused on the gospel around the world, on global work, on global missions. They will give. They'll fill a shoebox. They'll give money to missions. And I'm so thankful for those of you who give on a regular basis to help. And we'll be encouraging you through this year to, we want to expand what we do in giving to global missions. We want to think globally." ([00:17:10] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "Jesus said in Acts chapter 1 and verse 8, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you'll be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem. Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. He didn't say or, he said and. So when we think about the task of the church and the purpose of the church, the Great Commission, our work as believers, it is for us to think about both. We are to think globally. We want to leave those global fingerprints, but it starts with acting locally." ([00:18:43] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "The purpose of the church in all that we do to fulfill our task, our purpose is to glorify God. Now, that's a very simple statement, but it's profound when you start looking at its application. What does that look like lived out? How do we bring glory to God?" ([00:20:37] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "God gets glory in the church when we experience his glory personally. It starts with us as individuals. Now, a lot of people like to come to church, and we have this idea of what the glory of God is. I love when God's glory is manifested when we come together, but you know what? There are different ways that God's glory is manifested." ([00:21:47] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "God will not get glory in our lives unless the Spirit of God, the Spirit of holiness, and the Spirit of glory is at work in our lives. And Paul says, I'm praying for that to happen. I'm praying this for you as an individual within the church." ([00:26:53] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "God gets glory in the church. When we extend his, his glory globally, very interesting phrase in verse 15 of whom the whole family, I love that he calls the church, the family, you know, the church, most churches and the church is like a family." ([00:29:22] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "We glorify God to the ends of the earth. Why do we support missionaries? Why do we send mission trips? Why do we encourage our students and adults to go when God calls them to go and to serve? Because the gospel... When we spread the gospel, we glorify God to the ends of the earth, and the successfulness of that mission, the successfulness of that task, is not based on the numbers that come in, the numbers they believe." ([00:32:39] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "We bring glory to God when we express His glory locally. Unto Him be glory where? In the church. Now, that's not in this building. But that's in the people that make up the church. This church, I don't have a problem. Some people get all freaked out if you say, well, the church is not a building. We know that." ([00:35:26] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "Worship is acknowledging what is true about God, whether we acknowledged it or not. Is God holy? Let me try that again. Is God holy? That's much better. Thank y 'all. Please don't make me have to ask. Really harsh is my vibe, man. Y 'all just... Curdles my buttercream." ([00:37:51] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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